New Zealand was one of the last major landmasses to be colonized by humans. Prior to human settlement around 1280 AD, New Zealand’s biodiversity had evolved in isolation for around 80 million years. As a result, New Zealand was home to a wide array of unique bird species found nowhere else on Earth. Unfortunately, since human arrival, many of these endemic bird species have gone extinct.
How Many NZ Birds Have Gone Extinct?
According to the Department of Conservation, since human settlement of New Zealand, there have been 60 confirmed bird extinctions. An additional estimated 16 species are suspected to be extinct but unconfirmed. Some key facts about extinct New Zealand birds:
- New Zealand had no native land mammals before humans arrived, so many bird species evolved in the absence of mammalian predators.
- The birds were naïve to human hunting and vulnerable to introduced predators like rats and cats.
- Forest clearance and habitat destruction by early Polynesian and European settlers also contributed to extinctions.
- The 60 confirmed extinct species represents about 10% of New Zealand’s original avifauna.
Below is a table listing all the confirmed extinct bird species in New Zealand:
Table of Extinct New Zealand Birds
Common Name | Scientific Name |
---|---|
South Island goose | Cnemiornis calcitrans |
New Zealand owlet-nightjar | Aegotheles novaezealandiae |
South Island adzebill | Aptornis defossor |
North Island adzebill | Aptornis otidiformis |
Bush moa | Anomalopteryx didiformis |
Coastal moa | Euryapteryx curtus |
Crested moa | Pachyornis australis |
Eastern moa | Emeus crassus |
Giant moa | Dinornis robustus |
Heavy-footed moa | Pachyornis elephantopus |
Mantell’s moa | Pachyornis geranoides |
North Island giant moa | Dinornis novaezealandiae |
Roa | Megalapteryx didinus |
Slender bush moa | Anomalopteryx gracilis |
South Island giant moa | Dinornis robustus |
Stout-legged moa | Euryapteryx gravis |
Upland moa | Megalapteryx didinus |
New Zealand raven | Corvus antipodum |
Chatham raven | Corvus moriorum |
New Zealand quail | Coturnix novaezelandiae |
Dieffenbach’s rail | Gallirallus dieffenbachii |
Hawkins’s rail | Diaphorapteryx hawkinsi |
Snipe rail | Capellirallus karamu |
Chatham rail | Cabalus modestus |
North Island takahē | Porphyrio mantelli |
New Zealand coot | Fulica prisca |
South Island kokako | Callaeas cinerea |
Huia | Heteralocha acutirostris |
North Island piopio | Turnagra tanagra |
South Island piopio | Turnagra capensis |
New Zealand bittern | Ixobrychus novaezelandiae |
South Island shoveller | Anas rhynchotis |
Finsch’s duck | Chenonetta finschi |
New Zealand merganser | Mergus australis |
Chatham Island merganser | Mergus milleneri |
New Zealand owlet-nightjar | Aegotheles novaezealandiae savesi |
South Island kākā | Nestor meridionalis |
Chatham kākā | Nestor chathamensis |
Norfolk kākā | Nestor productus |
South Island kōkako | Callaeas cinerea cinerea |
North Island kōkako | Callaeas cinerea wilsoni |
New Zealand musk duck | Biziura delautouri |
New Zealand owlet-nightjar | Aegotheles novaezealandiae novaezealandiae |
Hodgen’s waterhen | Gallinula hodgeni |
Chatham oystercatcher | Haematopus chathamensis |
New Zealand snipe | Coenocorypha iredalei |
North Island kōkako | Callaeas cinerea wilsoni |
Major Causes of Extinction
There were several major factors that caused so many unique bird species to go extinct in New Zealand:
Habitat Destruction
When the Māori first arrived in New Zealand, they burned large areas of forest for agriculture and village sites. This destroyed prime habitat for many forest-dwelling birds. European settlers later accelerated habitat loss by clearing forest for farmland at an industrial scale. Deforestation left many birds with severely fragmented habitat.
Over-Hunting
The large, flightless moa species were easy prey for human hunters. They were hunted to extinction within 200 years of human arrival. Other large bird species like geese were also prized as food and heavily hunted.
Invasive Predators
The rats, cats, stoats and possums introduced to New Zealand by humans decimated populations of native ground-nesting birds. These aggressive predators ate eggs and chicks, driving avian declines.
Disease
The introduction of poultry diseases may have contributed to the extinction of some birds like the New Zealand quail. Diseases spread by mosquitoes were also implicated in some extinctions.
Failed Conservation Efforts
Unfortunately, early conservation efforts failed to save many of New Zealand’s unique extinct birds. Some key points:
- Conservation did not begin until the extinction crisis was already underway in the late 1800s.
- Habitat protection measures were too limited to allow remnant populations to recover.
- Invasive predators were not controlled at sufficient scale.
- Captive breeding programs were not developed in time to save key species.
The loss of so many endemic species remains a major conservation tragedy. However, New Zealand has learned important lessons and now leads the world in saving endangered species.
Surviving Endemic Birds Still at Risk
While at least 60 birds have been lost, many unique New Zealand birds survive today. However, a number of these remain under grave threat. These include:
Kiwi
The national icon of New Zealand, all 5 kiwi species are endangered. Predation and habitat loss continue to drive declines. Intensive management efforts are underway to boost populations.
Kākāpō
The world’s only flightless parrot, barely rescued from extinction in the 1990s. Now recovering thanks to predator control and intensive human care.
Takahē
Also flightless, just 300 survive. Conservationists manage remaining populations on predator-free islands & mainland sites.
Kea
This large mountain parrot is threatened by invasive mammals & lead poisoning. Its high-altitude habitat is also at risk from climate change.
Ongoing Conservation Efforts
While many unique species have been lost, New Zealand today leads the world in island restoration and threatened species recovery. Current conservation efforts include:
- Extensive predator control across mainland reserves and fenced “halo” areas.
- Raising threatened species in captive breeding facilities for re-release.
- Habitat restoration of forests, wetlands and alpine herbfields.
- Public education campaigns encouraging native forest regeneration on private land.
- Stricter biosecurity measures to prevent new invasive species arrivals.
- Climate change mitigation efforts focused on protecting glacial-fed braided rivers.
Thanks to these initiatives, many endangered New Zealand birds are recovering from the brink. While the extinction crisis has left deep scars, Kiwis continue to rally to save their natural heritage.
Conclusion
The arrival of humans in New Zealand triggered a devastating avian extinction crisis. Since settlement, 60 endemic bird species have been lost, including giant moa, flightless ducks, and giant eagles. Deforestation, over-hunting, invasive species and disease drove these extinctions. Tragically, early conservation efforts failed to prevent the losses. However, New Zealanders have learned from this history and now implement world-leading conservation initiatives. While some unique species cling to existence, efforts to control predators, restore habitat and fight climate change give hope that no more endemic birds need be lost. With care, dedication and scientific management, New Zealand’s remaining natural heritage can be preserved for future generations.